At the Captiva Library: Summer Reading Programs

June 7, 2012

Summer reading programs, Dream Big Read! for kids and Own the Night for teens have begun. For a complete schedule of events or sign-up information go to the Lee County Library website at library.lee-county.com , visit the Captiva Memorial Library or telephone the library at 5334890.

As the saying goes, "you should write a book"

The Broken King by Michael Thomas

"Michael Thomas's debut, Man Gone Down won the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and was a New York Times Top Ten Book of 2008. His extraordinary new work traces the lives of men in his family against the backdrop of the last century-and-a-half in America. From Reconstruction, to Jim Crow and the Civil Rights movement, Thomas explores fathers and sons, lovers and beloved, trauma and recovery, race and de-racination, soccer and the Boston Red Sox in a beautifully unique memoir. The title is borrowed from T.S. Eliot's Little Gidding: 'If you came at night like a broken king,' and the work ponders the process of being broken. Reminiscent of James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time, Thomas delivers a series of vignettes reaching back to his grandfather who, though trained as a pharmacist could never find work as one; his father, president of his class at BU, who was an unsuccessful businessman and failed parent; to his estranged brother's lawlessness; and his own two sons' relatively privileged lives in Brooklyn today. Every page rings with the effects of America's struggle with race, class, wealth, and education, while also offering an intimate look at the creative mind under stress-a brave, meticulous articulation of madness." *

Both of Us: My Life with Farrah by Ryan O'Neal

"Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. He was the handsome Academy Awardnominated star of Paper Moon and the classic romance Love Story. She was the beautiful, all-American Charlie's Angel, whose poster adorned the bedroom walls of teenage boys everywhere. One of the most storied love affairs in Hollywood history, their romance has captivated fans and media alike for more than three decades. In a tragic turn, the world lost Farrah after a tragic battle with cancer in 2009, but in his intimate memoir Both of Us, Ryan brings their relationship to vivid life. Fans of each other from afar, Ryan and Farrah met through her husband, Lee Majors, and fell passionately in love. Soon, however, reality threatened their happiness and they struggled with some serious matters, including the disintegration of Farrah's marriage; Ryan's troubled relationship with his daughter, Tatum, and son, Griffin; mismatched career trajectories; and raising their young son, Redmond-all leading Ryan and Farrah to an inevitable split in 1997. Ryan fought to create a life on his own but never stopped longing for Farrah. Eventually he realized that he had lost his true soul mate. Older and wiser, he and Farrah found their way back to each other and were excited to start a new life together. But their bliss was cut short when Farrah was diagnosed with cancer and passed away just three years later. Ryan's deep love for Farrah and his devotion to preserving her memory are evident in Both of Us. Drawing on decades' worth of personal records and keepsakes, he has included never-before-seen photographs, letters exchanged between him and Farrah, and his own diaries, making this a poignant and compelling memento for her fans. Written with candor and emotional honesty, it is a true Hollywood love story." *

Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News by Dan Rather

"This memoir by Dan Rather -- one of the most pre-eminent journalists of our time -- is told in a straightforward and conversational manner so that you hear his distinctive voice on every page. Rather, -- who has won every prestigious journalism award in his distinguished career -- discusses all the big stories from his decades of reporting. This very personal accounting includes (but is certainly not limited to) his dismissal from CBS, the Abu Ghraib story, the George W. Bush Air National Guard controversy, his coverage of the JFK assassination, the origin of "Hurricane Dan" as well as inside stories about all the top personalities Dan has either interviewed or worked with over his remarkable career.

The book will also include Dan's thoughts and reflections on the state of journalism today and what he sees for its future, as well as never-before-revealed personal observations and commentary." *

The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism

by Kate Winslet, Keli Thorsteinsson and Margret Ericsdottir

"Imagine what it would be like not to be able to communicate with those we love. For many individuals living with nonverbal autism and their families, this is their everyday reality. The Golden Hat is an intimate response to this reality created by Kate Winslet, Margret Ericsdottir, and her son Keli, who has nonverbal autism. Kate and Margret's stories, their personal email correspondence, and Keli's poetry give us a profound insight into the world of those living with autism. Kate has shared this story with some of the world's most famous people, posing the question: "What is important to you to express?" Their responses are a collection of intimate self-portraits and unique quotes Put together by Kate, Margret, and the dedicated team who work daily on the Golden Hat Foundation, this project has been a labor of love. All the author proceeds from this groundbreaking book will benefit the Golden Hat Foundation, founded by Kate Winslet and Margret Ericsdottir to build innovative living campuses for people with autism and raise public awareness of their intellectual capabilities." *

I Hate EveryoneStarting With Me by Joan Rivers

"Joan Rivers, comedienne, actress, jewelry monger, lives by the golden rule: Do unto others before they do unto you--and for God's sakes, do it funny! During the past two hundred years Joan has gained acclaim as an award-winning entertainment goddess. Joan is an international star (she can sneer in eight different languages) having performed all over the world, raising eyebrows, dropping names, and getting laughs. Her career in comedy began with a fantastic sense of self-loathing, but, after spending a couple of years looking at the human decrepitude around her, she figured, "Why stop here when there are so many other things to hate?" Here--uncensored and totally uninhibited--Joan says "F.U. to P.C." and says exactly what's on her mind...And HER mind is a terrible thing to waste. She proudly kicks the crap out of ugly children, dating rituals, funerals, and lousy restaurants. She nails First Ladies, closet cases, and hypocrites to the wall. She shows no mercy towards doctors, feminists, and historical figures. She even goes after Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking, and the plucky handicapped. Joan lets everyone--including herself--have it in this one hundred percent honest and unabashedly hilarious love letter to the hater in all of us. This is absolute Joan Rivers. You gotta love her. Even if she hates you-"*Show More